Sheet feeding mechanism



P. E. PEARSON SHEET FEEDING MECHANISM- Dec. 30, 1941'.

Filed May 11, 1940 18 Sheets-Sheet l WNW Nu WN mm .m\ mm www www XQ N g 3% k RN 1386- 1941- P. E. PEARSON SHEET FEEDING MECHANISM Filed Ma 11 194 NQ M/ x Wm. Rx

Dec. 30, 1941. P. E. PEARSON SHEET FEEDING MECHANISM Filed May 11, 1940 18 Sheets-Sheet 3 fwasvraa 63 6 J -M 1% Dec. 30, 1941.

Dec. 30, 1941. P. E. PEARSON SHEET FEEDING MECHANISM Filed May 1 1, 1940 18 Sheets-Shget 5 Ezra/744945 P. EQPEARSON SHEET FEEDING MECHANISM Dec. 30, 1941.

Filed May 11, 1940' 18 Sheets-Sheet 6 Faro/aways Dec. 30, 1941. P. E. PEARSON SHEET FEEDING MECHANISM Filed May 11, 1940 18 Sheets-Sheet 7 m %zoi firrarPA s Y6 I Dec. 30, 194-1.

18 Sheets-Sheet 8 P. E. PEARSON SHEET FEEDING MECHANISM Filed May 11, 1940 mum" R Dec. 30, 1941. P, PEARSON 2,268,299

SHEET FEEDING MECHANISM Filed May 11, 1940 18 Sheets-Sheet 9 .30,1941 P. E. PEARSON 2, 68,299

SHEET FEEDING MECHANISM- Filed May 11, 1940 18 Sheets-Sheet 1o 14 198 A. 1%

Dec. 30, 1941. Y R E PEARSO 2,268,299

' I SHEET FEEDING MECHANISM Filed May 11, 1940 18 Sheets-Sheet 11 Dec. 30, 1941. P. E.IPEARSON 2,268,299

SHEET FEEDING MECHANISM Filed May 11, 1940 l8 Sheets-Sheet l3 Dec. 30, 1941. P. E. PEARSON 2,268,299

SHEET FEEDING MECHANISM Filed May 11, 1940 18 Sheet-Sheet 14 Dec. 30; 194-1. E Rso 2,268,299

I SHEET FEEDING MECHANISM 1 Filed May 11, 1940 v 18 Sheets-Sheet l5 77km r957 Dec. 30, 1941. p PEARSON 2,268,299

SHEET FEEDING MECHANISM f/r igi s V Fi 0126,

JQLQJQ? 603 7 J09 7 J Wa 47 "'Q Dec. 30, 1941. P, E. PEARSON 2,268,299

SHEET FEEDING MECHANISM Filed May 11, 1940 18 Sheets-Sheet l7 Dec. 30, 1941. P. E. PEARSON V SHEET FEEDING MECHANISM Filed May 11, 1940 18 Sheets-Sheet l8 3% $0 35 86 \mbS QRuR Patented Dec. 30, 1941 UNlTED STATES Parser caries SHEET FEEDING MECHANISM Paul E. Pearson, Chicago, Ml... assignor to @ontk nental Can Company, inc, New EZorh, N, 322, a corporation of New York.

Application May 11, 194W, erial No. 334,655?

23 Claims. (=71. iimfii) The invention relates generally to sheet feed-- ing mechanisms and primarily seeks to provide a novel machine structure embodying sheet feeding means for delivering sheets one ata time to machine structures such as lithographing or sheet slitting machines, and pneumatically actuated gripping devices for lifting the sheets one by one from a suitably positioned pack of sheets and presenting them to said feeding means.

An object of the invention is to provide a machine of the character stated in which is included a novel arrangement of pneumatically actuated sheet gripper units, one such unit being disposed over each corner of the sheets to be fed and a plurality of such units being disposed intermediate said corner units and effective to lift and freely swing with intermediate portions of the sheets in a manner for preventing contact of such portions with the underlying sheet and the resultant scratching of engaging sheet surfaces. a

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine of the character stated in which is provided gripper units of novel construction which lift the sheets individually by suction action and which are presented against the upper surface ofthe sheet pack by pneumatic pressure and withdrawn by spring action for the purpose of withdrawing sheets individually from the pack.

Another object of the invention is to provide novel means for actuating the gripper units which engage the advance corners of the individual sheets whereby said units will present said sheets individually to feed rolls disposed for feeding the individually presented sheets from the machine.

Another object of the invention is to provide novel means for automatically lifting the pack of sheets through small increments of movement so as to constantly present the uppermost sheet of the pack in position for being engaged by the gripping and lifting units.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine of the character stated embodying novel means for controlling the pneumatic action of the gripper units and associated control mechanism.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine of the character stated embodying novel means for supporting a pack of sheets and novel means for imparting rapid traverse movement to said sup orting means upwardly to the effective. sheet presenting position, or downwardly, to a position for receiving a replenished pack supply, said last named means including a driving motor, a reversible clutch, and novel means for shifting the clutch to a neutral position each time said supporting means attains its upper efiective or lower limit positions.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine embodying traverse movement imparting equipment including a reversible clutch and actuator means therefor, and means for automatically locking the actuator means against movement during automatic feeding of the pack for presenting the uppermost sheets successively in position for heing engaged by the gripping units.

Another object of the invention is to provide novel sheet pack position controlling means and devices for rendering said means ineffective during the imparting of rapid traverse movement upwardly or downwardly to the pack or the pack supporting means.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for automatically presenting the uppermost sheets of the pack successively in position for being engaged by the gripper units and including novel ratchet and pawl devices and automatically operable means for releasing the pawl from the ratchet each time the proper height of the pack has been attained.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine of the character stated in which is included pack supporting means, means including a motor for lifting and lowering the support-,- ing means to and from pack presenting positions, novel means including ratchet and pawl devices for lifting the pack to successively present uppermost sheets thereof for engagement by lifting devices, and manually operable means for releasing said pawl and automatically starting said motor.

Another object of the invention is to provide novel automatically operable means for ejecting double or. superposed sheets presented to the sheet feeding devices by the sheet lifting and presenting units.

With these and other objects in view which will more fully appear, the nature of the invention will be more clearly understood by following the description, the appended claims, and the several views illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

away and in section.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary upper left side elevation, parts being broken away and in section.

Figure 3 is a diagrammatic perspective'viewillustrating the relative arrangement of the gripper units and the connection thereof with the master valve.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary vertical longitudinal section of the rear portion of the machine.

Figure 5 is an enlarged, somewhat diagrammatic vertical longitudinal section illustrating the manner in which the sheets are lifted and presented to the feeding mechanism.

Figure 6 is an enlarged central vertical see- Figure 1 is a front elevation, parts being broken 7 portion shown in Figure 21 is a central horizontal section of the tion of one ofthe lifter units engageable with a sheet corner.

Figure '1 is a view similar to Figure 6 illus- .trating another form of lifter unit.

cross section illustrating the positioning of the 7 sheet pack lift controlling switch.

Figure 11 is a fragmentary vertical section illustrating the feeder pawl position controlling means.

Figure 12 is a left side elevation of the parts shown in Figure 11.

Figure 13 is a detail longitudinal section illustrating th reversible clutch structure.

Figure 14 is a detail vertical cross section taken on the line i4-ll on Figure 13.

Figure 15 is a fragmentary vertical cross section illustrating the driving connections for the cam shaft and the feed roll shaft.

Figure 16 is a front elevation of the master valve. parts being broken away and in section.

Figure 17 is a left side elevation of the master valve, parts being shown in central vertical section.

Figure 18 is a front elevation of the body of the master valve.

Figure 19 is a top plan view of the valve portion shown in Figure 18.

Figure 20 is a bottom plan view of the valve Figure 18.

valve portion shown in Figure 18.

Figures 22 and 23 respectively illustrate in bottom and top plan view, the upper and lower rotary valve plates of the master valve.

Figures 24 and 25 are fragmentary vertical cross sections taken on the line 24-25 on Figure 16 and respectively illustrate the effective and cut-off positions of the manually operable rotary valve with relation to the air pressure chamber of the master valve.

Figures 26 and 2'1 are fragmentary vertical cross sections taken on the line 28-21 onFigure 16 and respectively. illustrate the effective and cut-off positions of the manually operable rotary valve with relation to the vacuum'chamber of the master valve.

Figure 28 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical cross section of the rear cross frame piece, the nozzle air control valve being shown in edge view and part longitudinal section.

Figure 29 is a rear face view of the control valve shown in Figure 28, parts being broken away and in section.

Figure 30 is a diagram chart depicting the operating cycle of the machine.

In the example of embodiment of the invention herein disclosed, I designates the skid platform on which the pack 2 of sheets to be fed are supported. In the mounting of these skids and sheet packs in proper cooperative relation with the feeding devices of the machine the individual skid platforms are rolled into place in the machine over rollways 1 which are engaged by the laterally spaced. longitudinally disposed supporting legs I depending from the skid platforms.

The lateral edges of the platforms I overlie rollways 9 which are disposed longitudinally on the c-shaped lifting and lowering frame it and facilitate mounting and removal of said platforms, the frame It being open at the front in the manner best illustrated in Figure l of the drawings.

Four lifting and lowering chains II are provided and each is secured at its lower end as at i2 at one of the four corners of the frame ill. Each chain passes over a sprocket it, two such sprockets being secured upon each of the two shafts II which are disposed in parallel spaced relation one along each upper side of the machine framing. Each shaft I4 is rotatable in bear ngs ll provided therefor in a longitudinal end framing unit It and each of these frame units is supported at its front end on a comer post or standard l1 at the rear, indirectly, on framing generally designated I8. each said unit being secured as at It to a housing unit structure 20 which is in turn supported by said framing it. The housing units 20 serve as supporting means for a rear cross frame member 2| which is secured as at 22 to said housing units.

Each shaft It has a worm wheel 23 secured thereon within the respective housing unit 20 and is rotatably supported in bearings 24 provided in said housing 20. A cross shaft 2! is rotatably supported at its ends in suitable bearings provided therefor in the housing units 20, and within each housing this cross shaft carries a worm gear 26 which meshes with the respective worm wheel 23. The shaft 2! extends beyond the housing unit 20 at the left side of the machine and basa ratchet wheel 21 affixed thereto. It will be obvious that as rotation is imparted to the ratchet wheel 21 it will be transmitted through the shaft 25 and the worm gears afilxed thereon to the .worm wheels 23 and the shafts it on which they are mounted. Rotation of the shafts H in one direction or the other will serve to lift or lower the chains II and the skid platform 5 and sheet pack 6 supported on the supporting frame it. The power transmitting connections Just referred to serve to impart rotation to the shaft I! in a direction for lifting the chains only and the means for imparting movement to the ratchet wheel 21 and the means for imparting rotation to the shaft 2! in the opposite direction for effecting a lowering of the supporting frame and 30.

A cam shaft 22 is rotatably supported in the aligned bearings 29 in the housing units 20 and carries a gear a to which rotation is imparted by a smaller gear 34 secured upon a drivel-shaft ll rotatably supported in the housing unit bearing 2|, the shaft 25 being driven through a bevel gear couple 36 from any suitable power input" source, preferably from the sheet slitting machine or a lithographing or other machine to which the sheet feeding machine is connected in cooperative relation.

The driver shaft II also carries a larger gear 21 which meshes with and drives a small gear II secured upon a sheet feed roll shaft rotatably' supported in the aligned housing unit bearings II. The shaft 38 also carries a sprocket or pulley 4| forming a part ofa roll driving couple which will be described later. 

